Saturniidae

Dryocampa rubicunda Rosy

30 n=20 ••• • • • • • • • • 20 High Mt. •• • • • • N • • •• u 10 • • • • • m • • • • • • • b • • 0 • • • • e • • • • • • • • r 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 • • 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 NC counties: 62 • • • • Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec • o • • 30 • • • f n=124 • = Sighting or Collection Low Mt. High counts of: • • in NC since 2001 F 20 • = Not seen since 2001 l 42 - Montgomery - 2007-08-09 • i 10 20 - Madison - 2021-06-14 g Status Rank h 19 - Randolph - 2011-08-09 0 NC US NC Global t 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 D Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec a 30 30 t n=145 n=206 e 20 Pd 20 CP s

10 10

0 0 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Three periods to each month: 1-10 / 11-20 / 21-31 FAMILY: SUBFAMILY: Caratocaminae TRIBE: TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: The only member of its genus (see Ferguson, 1971, for its separation from Anisota). Several color forms have been described, one of which -- alba, a nearly all white form -- Ferguson recognized as a distinct subspecies. Only the typical bicolored form occurs in North Carolina, however.

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: MPG, Bugguide, BAMONA TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1971), Tuskes et al. (1996) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1971), Covell (1984), Tuskes et al. (1996), Wagner (2005)

ID COMMENTS: The bright yellow and pink adults are nearly unmistakeable. Only the Pink Prominent (Hyparpax aurora) and Primrose Moth (Schinia florida) are similar in color, although usually smaller. The subterminal area is yellow in S. florida, but red or pink in both and Hyparpax. The thorax of Dryocampa is completely yellow-orange, whereas in Hyparpax there is usually some pink color (Covell, 1984). The antemedian line is somewhat smoothly curved in Dryocampa but sharply angled in Hyparpax (Covell, 1984).

DISTRIBUTION: Occurs statewide (Brimley, 1938), except, perhaps on the Outer Banks and other barrier islands

FLIGHT COMMENT: Probably double-brooded over most of the state (Brimley, 1938)

HABITAT: -- particularly Red maple -- occur in nearly every type of forested habitat in eastern North America. Not surprisingly, Dryocampa has been found in a wide variety of forests, ranging from swamps and peatlands in the Coastal Plain, to river bottomlands and mesic slopes throughout the Piedmont and Low and High Mountains. In addition to natural areas, it also occurs commonly in wooded residential area. We have no records for the Outer Banks and other barrier islandes, however, including Nags Head Woods, Fort Macon State Park, and Bald Head Island, all of which have had intensive moth surveys.

FOOD: Feeds mainly on maples (Acer spp.), including Red maple (A. rubrum), Sugar maple (A. saccharum), Silver maple (A. saccharinum), and Box elder (A. negundo) (Fergson, 1971). In some areas, however, it has also been found on oaks, including Turkey oak (Q. laevis) (Ferguson, 1971).

OBSERVATION_METHODS: Adults of both sexes come well to lights, including both blacklights and incandescent. Early instar larvae are gregarious, and in outbreak years can be quite conspicuous. Pupation occurs underground.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G5 [S5]

STATE PROTECTION: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands

COMMENTS: Populations are locally vulnerable to the effects of weather, outbreaks of disease, parasites, and predators, and to the effects of pesticides. However, given the commonness of their host plants, wide habitat range -- including suburban areas -- and statewide distribution, this species can easily recover from localized losses. Unlike several other species of Saturniids, Dryocampa has remained abundant in the Northeast (Wagner, 2012) and may not be as vulnerable to the effects of Compsilura parasitism.

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1